Lantana plant named ‘Balucimyel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucimyel’ characterized by its medium yellow-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and compact, upright and mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balucimyel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balucimyel’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during January 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP-520, not patented, characterized by its light yellow-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately compact, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balucimyel’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Medium yellow-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Compact, upright and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balucyell’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,684. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucyell’ in the following characteristics: Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of ‘Balucyell’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balucimyel’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balucimyel’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of ‘Balucimyel’ with approximately one-third of the flowers open.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of ‘Balucimyel’ with approximately two-thirds of the flowers open.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of ‘Balucimyel’ with all of the flowers open.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 20, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75° F. to 85° F. (24° C. to 29° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 68° F. (17° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000 to 10,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar Balucimyel. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             designated BFP-520, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact, upright and             mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 11.6 cm. Width: Approximately 18.6 cm.

Branching habit.—Basal branching. Approximately 2 main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at every node. Pinching enhances basal branching.

-   -   -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, becomes woody with age. Shape:             Square in cross section. Length: Approximately 9.3 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.6 mm. Texture: Scabrous. Color of             young stem: 144A. Color of mature stem: 199B. Internode             length at center of branch: Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 12.             Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple. Arrangement:             Opposite. Aspect: At obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Ovate.             Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             6.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Hispid. Texture of lower surface: Hispid,             especially along the veins. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Darker than 139A with venation of 144A. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: Darker than 137B with             venation of 144C. Petiole length: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Petiole diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Petiole texture:             Densely pubescent. Petiole color: 144C.

-   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balucimyel’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.2 weeks after             sticking of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 8 days             from full maturity.

-   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Type: Corymb. Aspect: Facing upward or outward.             Height: 2.0 cm. Width: 3.8 cm.         -   Quantity per plant.—Approximately 3 fully open at nine             weeks.         -   Quantity flowers per corymb at any one time.—Approximately             38.         -   Fragrance.—Strong, spicy.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.1 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.2 mm. Texture: Scabrous. Color:             144A.

-   Flower description:     -   -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open floret. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Rectangular. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.3 mm. Color:             3B.         -   Corolla.—Type: Salverform. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals             with one upper petal, two lateral petals, and two lower             petals. Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube.             Shape: Obovate, Aspect: Cupped. Appearance: Velvety. Apex:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire, ruffled. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Length of upper petal from throat:             Approximately 5.7 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately             7.2 mm. Length of lateral petal from throat: Approximately             4.5 mm. Width of lateral petal: Approximately 4.2 mm. Length             of lower petal from throat: Approximately 4.8 mm. Width of             lower petal: Approximately 8.2 mm. Color of upper surface of             all petals when first open: 7A. Color of lower surface of             all petals when first open: 8B. Color of upper surface of             all petals when fully open: 14A. Color of lower surface of             all petals when fully open: 14C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 1.7 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 0.9 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous at proximal end gradually becoming densely             pubescent at distal end. Color of inner surface: 14D. Color             of outer surface: 14C.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Height: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.1 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.1 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at the base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Broadly acute. Length: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Width: Approximately 0.6 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Scabrous. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: 145C.         -   Bracts.—Quantity: One per flower. Shape: Lanceolate. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surface: Pubescent. Color of upper             surface: 144A. Color of lower surface: 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, two             positioned above stigma and two even with stigma. Stamen             length: Approximately 1.2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate, bilobed.             Anther length: Approximately 0.3 mm. Anther color: 200C.             Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 4C. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             3.4 mm. Stigma shape: Elliptic. Stigma length: Approximately             0.4 mm. Stigma color: 144B. Style length: Approximately             2.5 mm. Style color: 144C with overlay of 187A. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Ovary color: 144C.         -   Fruit.—Classification: Drupe. Shape: Spherical. Diameter:             Approximately 5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of immature             fruit: 137B. Color of mature fruit: Greyer than 103B.         -   Seed.—Quantity: Sparse. Diameter: Approximately 4 mm. Color:             200C.

-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucimyel’, substantially as herein shown and described. 